Dine-In Restrictions for Bars, Restaurants EXTENDED to April 3

The emergency rule approved today will extend those restrictions on bars and
restaurants, etc. until April 3rd, 2020. This emergency rule will also include restrictions for gyms, theaters,and other indoor recreational facilities.DEFINITELY do what you can do support our local businesses affected by these restrictions.

MOST OF THEM HAVE ORDER PICK-UP capability. So just pick up the phone to your fave establishment, pay over the phone (or whatever is easiest) then pick up your stuff!

Or, any number of delivery services can hook you up too. Doesn't matter. Just do it if you can!

The Gallatin City-County Board of Health met at 3:00 PM today, March 18th, 2020, to consider an emergency rule that could extend the longevity of and type of restrictions placed on public and private gathering spaces.

(Earlier this week an order was issued by Gallatin City-County Health Officer Matt Kelley, imposing restrictions on bars, brew pubs, casinos, and restaurants to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.)

So here's what was put forth at the meeting today:

1: All bars, breweries, wineries, distilleries, restaurants, casinos, gyms, fitness facilities, athletic centers, workout studios,paintball parlors, ice skating rinks, indoor climbing venues, trampoline parks, indoor sporting arenas, cinemas, and theatres shall be closed to the public beginning at 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 18, through Friday, April 3, 8:00 a.m., pending further notification.

2: Notwithstanding the foregoing, restaurants may operate on a limited basis by providing service via take-out, drive-through, and/or delivery. Restaurants that maintain dining room facilities in addition to take-out, drive-through and/or delivery operations must close their dining room operations.

3. Breweries, distilleries, and wineries may continue to make alcoholic beverages, but may not operate tasting rooms, or otherwise serve non-sealed alcoholic beverages to the public.

4: Food service establishments which provide the primary meal sources for a population that lives or works within its buildings, such as University-based dining facilities or cafeterias in hospital and care facilities may remain open to the population such an establishment serves.

5. This rule does not apply to grocery stores or deli counters within grocery stores, or to convenience stores.Convenience stores with combined restaurants shall close their dining room facilities.

6: This rule applies to all gyms, fitness facilities, athletic centers, workout studios, and indoor sporting arenas that provide services to the public, as well as fitness facilities belonging to private groups (e.g. University gyms, apartment or housing association, and care facilities, etc).

7: This rule does not apply to licensed physical therapy practices, provided that such practices exercise appropriate social distancing.

Before the meeting, a press release went out that included the following:

Matt Kelley, Health Officer with the Gallatin City-County Health Department states, “As Health Officer, my recommendation to the Board of Health will be to adopt the rule in order to address the ongoing public health emergency and to limit spread of COVID-19 in order to protect the public health and our health care system. In my view, now is the time to act to slow spread and flatten the curve.”

The best online source of information on COVID-19 in Gallatin County can be found here at Healthy Gallatin.

For additional information, contact the Gallatin City-County Health Department at 406.582.3100.